Lucius P. Thundercat - Black History Legend (Album Review)

It is clear that Lucius P. Thundercat believes in his people, dedicating this 10 track project titled “Black History Legend” to our community. I’m not mad at it either, because with all the f**kery going on in this world these days, we may need a hero for our people that is as gallant as Lucius is.

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TOP 5

5. COINS

“Coins” is the first single off of the album, and it has this exhilarating sound to it that I think makes it both a club banger and a perfect track to do a workout to.

You know what I love most about this track? Lucius raps like he belongs on it, showing some great animation, dynamic bars, and this die-hardism when it comes to his delivery. On the real, he actually sounds like he isn’t going to be denied on his way to the money, ultimately making the song’s topic feel 100% legit.

4. FINESSING

“Finessing” is smooth as s-t, as Lucius lets the world know about his playa-like ways over this flute heavy instrumental. For the most part, Lucius approaches the track with this raw mentality, letting us know how he’s gotten away with manipulating the minds of our beautiful women. I love how the song flows, and learned a thing or two when it comes to wooing.

3. 95’s CYPHER

What a pleasant f**kin’ surprise “95’s Cypher” is! Who knew Lucius had some old school bars in his system.

I’ma keep it real with you: “95’s Cypher” reminds me of some classic New York rap. I swear to you, if you pit his verses on this song against any one of your favorite rappers verses in the game, I am not exactly sure your favorite rapper will come out the winner. Lucius’ bars are sturdy on the track, his lyrical content is as competitive as it gets, and you will love the way he attacks the menacing instrumental. Luci…I mean 95 Thrilla, you killed this s–t!

2. BLACK HISTORY LEGEND

I absolutely love when artists set the tone of the album with explosive tracks like “Black History Legend.”

“Black History Legend” is lively, animated, and lots of fun. On it, the production revs the listeners up with its gaudy style (Shoutout Protegè Beatz), while Lucius takes our ears for this edgy stroll through some very vivid bars. The combination makes for this dynamic rap track that satisfies your urge for both kill-a-rapper and clubbin’ music.

1. BLACK SACRIFICE (A DEDICATION)

“Black Sacrifice (A Dedication)” is a sound that I think is perfect for the subject matter of this album, as it has this whole ‘black excellence’ vibe to it production-wise (Shoutout to Swelly Beatz for creating this masterpiece).

Aside from providing the track with this gentle hook, Lucius comes hard on “Black Sacrifice,” providing us with perhaps his best wordplay of the album. Content-wise, Lucius gives us something that is nothing short of real, dropping a few bars about rising up despite the people around him doing their best to bring him down.

If you ask me, this is Lucius’ best sound.

SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN

1. BLACK HISTORY LEGEND (5/5)

2. 95’s CYPHER (5/5)

3. FINESSING (5/5)

4. BLACK AND BOASTFUL (4.5/5)

5. COINS (4.9/5)

6. 95 THRILLALUDE (LPT AS 95 THRILLA) (4.5/5)

7. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE VIBE (4.6/5)

8. BREATHE ON IT (4/5)

9. NEVER NOT ME (4.1/5)

10. BLACK SACRIFICE (A DEDICATION) (5/5)

OVERALL RATING

(9.2/10)

The main thing I love about this album is its unapologetic nature. From the moment you press play, Lucius shows off this brash demeanor that isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. Fortunately for us, his brash style comes out in the form of heavy-hitting bars — ones that will resonate really well with you.

It’s not very often that you get to hear an artist that is able to make both traditional hip-hop music and trendy bangers like Lucius was able to do on this album. That shows me that he is a helluva talent musically, and that he also has a pretty decent ear for music. I mean seriously, what can’t he do, right? Not only does he show us he can make flawless club gems in both “Black History Legend” and “Coins,” but he also shows off this ability to be pretty lyrical in tracks like “95’s Cypher” and “Black Sacrifice.” It’s clear Lucius is a master of many, which is why I think Hip Hop fans everywhere will love this project.